Action 52

Action 52

Developer(s)

Publisher(s)

Composer

Platform(s)

Release Date(s)

NES1991(North America)Genesis1993

Genre

Various

Mode(s)

Single-playermulti-player

Distribution

Unknown

Action 52 is an unlicensed video game developed by Active Enterprises in September 1991 for the NES and in May 1993 for the Sega Genesis. The Super Nintendo version wasn't released. It initially retailed for the comparatively high price of US$199 (or "less than $4 for each game") and became notorious among gamers for the abysmal quality of its games. Many video game collectors value Action 52 for its notoriety and rarity. Both the NES and Genesis versions of Action 52 were reviewed by The Angry Video Game Nerd on April 30 and June 9, 2010.

Some of the complaints that the Nerd has about Action 52 are the graphics, the B button controlling your jumping rather than A, dying in midair before even hitting the ground, the graphics, and the frequent number of space shooters.

Contents

Prototype

In 2010, a prototype cartridge of Action 52 surfaced, owned by movie and video games distributor Greg Pabich. Originally, Vince Perri had proposed a deal with Pabich asking him if he would be interested in working for Active Enterprises as a business partner. At this time, Perri only had a few prototype cartridges and not the final product. For various reasons, Pabich turned down the offer, but not before leaving with one of the prototypes in his possession, which was stored in his warehouse for over twenty years before it was "rediscovered".

The prototype itself contains numerous differences from the final Action 52 cartridges. It contains minor text differences for the game titles as well as different color backgrounds for the game selection menus. The final version contains the words "Action 52" in its header and copyright information in its footer. The prototype simply contains section numbers in each menu screen's header. The code for Action 52 appears to be heavily based upon the pirate multicart 52 in 1. This is evident due the menu template in the Action 52 prototype being identical to that of 52 in 1. However, the biggest difference between the prototype and the final game is that while the final copy contains the game Cheetahmen, the prototype does not. In its place is a completely different Cheetahmen game titled "Action Gamer" (presumingly taken from the main character the Action Gamemaster in Cheetahmen). Action Gamer features only two levels, one of which is incomplete.

On November 11, 2011, Greg Pabich publicly released reproductions of Action Gamer, calling it "Cheetahmen: The Creation". This special package contains a sealed version of the game for collectors, an unsealed copy, a reproduction of the original Cheetahmen comic book, a Cheetahmen music CD, special edition T-Shirts and a poster.

In August 2012, one of the four original Action 52 developers surfaced and surprised the gaming community with their find, their very own original boxed Action 52 NES prototype cartridge, the only other Action 52 prototype known to exist. Along with never-before-seen original Action 52 and Cheetahmen posters and artwork, they posted an eBay auction selling the items for a $97,000 Buy It Now option or Best Offer. The auction generated over 10,000 views and 50 offers. They have since created a blog documenting the auction, the prototype, and their part in the development of the Action 52 NES cartridge. Their version of the story of Action 52, Active Enterprises, Vince Perri, and the other developers can be read there.

Game list

Action 52 (NES)

Firebreather/ Fire Breathers:

Starevil/ Star Evil

Illuminator

G-Force FGT./ G-Force (G-Force Fighters)

Ooze^

Silver Sword

Critical BP./ Crytical Bypass (Critical Bypass)

Jupitr Scope/ Jupiter Scope

Alfredo/ Alfred N the Fettuc (Alfredo and The Fettucini*)

Operat. Moon/ Operation Full-Moon

Dam Busters

Thrusters

Haunted Hill/ Haunted Halls (Haunted Halls of Wentworth)

Chill Out

Sharks

Megalonia

French Baker

Atmos Quake

Meong

Space Dreams

Streemerz

Spread Fire

Bubblgum Rosy/ Bubble Gum Rossie (Bubblegum Rosie)

Micro Mike/ Micro-Mike

Underground

Rocket Jock/ Rocket Jockey

Non Human

Cry Baby

Slashers

Crazy Shufle/ Crazy Shuffle

Fuzz Power

Shooting Gal/ Shooting Gallery

Lollipops/ Lollipop

Evil Empire

Sombreros

Storm Over D/ Storm Over the Des. (Storm Over the Desert)

Mash Man

They Came...

Lazer League

Billy-Bob

City of Doom

Bits N Piece/ Bits and Pieces

Beeps N Blip/ Beeps and Blips

Manchester (Manchester Beat)

Boss (The Boss)

Dedant

Hambo/ Hambo's Adventures

Timewarp/ Time Warp Tickers

Jigsaw*

Ninja Asault/ Ninja Assault

Robbie Robot/ Robbie and the Robots

Cheetah Men (AKA: Action Gamemaster)

Action 52 (Genesis)

Bonkers

Darksyne

Dyno Tennis

Ooze

Star Ball

Sidewinder

Daytona

15 Puzzle

Sketch

Star Duel

Haunted Hill

Alfredo

The Cheetahmen

Skirmish

Depth Charge

Minds Eye

Alien Attack

Billy Bob

Sharks

Knockout

Intruder

Echo

Freeway

Mousetrap

Ninja

Slalom

Dauntless

Force One

Spidey

Appleseed

Skater

Sunday Drive

Star Evil

Air Command

Shootout

Bombs Away

Speed Boat

Dedant

G Fighter

Man At Arms

Norman

Armor Battle

Magic Bean

Apache

Paratrooper

Sky Avenger

Sharpshooter

Meteor

Black Hole

The Boss

First Game (A Pong clone.)

Challenge

Cheetahmen

Released on the Action 52 NES and Genesis cartridges, The Cheetahmen was Active Enterprises' attempt to compete with the success of franchises such as Battletoads and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The Action 52 cartridge came with a twelve-page comic book providing the Cheetahmen's backstory.

Cheetahmen II

The game was never released in North America; however, in 1996, 1,500 copies of the game were located in a warehouse, and eventually put on sale on the secondary market.